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J. W. BASSHAIVI.

INNER TUBE.

APPLICATION FILED IuNE 20. I9Is.

1,312,072. fyi' Patented Aug. 5,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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l. W. BASSHAIVI.

INNER TUBE. APPLICATION FILED )UNE 20 191B.

1,312,072. ,ParnentedAugl 5,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ttoz nus s UNrrEn srArEs PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN vv. Bassi-IAM, or conclusie, rEniNEssEE.

INNER TUBE.

To all whom/,it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN 7. BAssrraMVa citizen of the United States,residing atfCo lumbia, inthe county of `Maury andState of Tennessee, have invented a `newanduseful Inner Tube, of Which the following` is `a specification.

The device forming the subject matterof this application .is adapted to `replace a pneumatic innertullein a vehicle tire, and constitutes to all intents and purposes, an inner tube.

One object of the invention isitoprovide means whereby inner tubes, `Which are subject to lpuncture and i deterioration, may 1 be dispensed with. Another object of the invention is to provideresilient rings adapted to be assembled With a circumferential-base member, and reinforced internally by a novel arrangement of springs, thef construction being such that any ring maybe re-y moved from the base member, and being suchthat any spring maygberemovedlfroin its containing ring, to the end `that dam aged parts may be replaced readily.

I have not attempted to shovv all of the forms which my invention may take, and a skilled mechanic may Work changes in those forms which I .i have delineated and described,-Without departing from the spirit of the invention, or'jeopardizing theutility thereof.

In the drawings Figure 1 shows in side elevation, a portion of a Wheel and a tirer-wherein the. invention has been embodied, parts being broken away and parts appearing in section; Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. l is a section on the line lf-inf Fie". B', Fig. 5 is a transverse section showing a modified form of the invention, mostsparts appearing in elevation; Fig. 6 is an elevation showing a further modification.

In the accompanying drawings, the Nnu 1 meral 1 marks a spoke of a Wheel, carrying a felly 2 which supports a rim. The rim-may be made in various Ways, so far as the invention is concerned, but in the present instance, the rim includes parts 3 extended transversely of the felly 2 and provided with any suitable means 4L for engaging a casing 5 which `is constructed of rubber or any other {iexible material employed commonly in the making of tire casings. The rim parts 3 may be supplied with side Specirieation of Letters:Batent.`

`Patented A110. 1919.

flanges secured to `the `felly Zby attaching devicesT.`

A circumferential ring or base member 8 rests on the rim parts Sand `is retained against lateral Amovement thereby. If desired, the edges of the base member maybe turned over toforin stiffening beads 9. liten silient rings `10 are disposed transversely of i the base member S. The edges of each ring converge, as shown `atl 31, as they extend toward the base member 8, sothat the edges of adjoining rings may beparallel, andto` the endthat there may be no objectionable gaps between the rings atthetread portion of the structure. In order to compensate for the `weakening caused by convergingthe edges of the ringsat 31, the rings are made thicker adjacent the base member S than they are in their tread portions, the rings tapering `in thickness toward their tread portions," as shown at 32 in Fig. 2. The rings lllfit closely Within the casing 5 and serve as a supporttherefor, replacing` air The rings 10 carry inflatable inner tube. brackets 11 located side by side,the bracket 11 on one ring `being pivoted at 14 t0 a link 12 which is pivoted at 15 to a link `16,4 pivotedat 17 to the bracket 11 of an adjoining ring.` rILhetread portions of the ringsi are, therefore, connected by hinges, as shown best yin Fig. 3. Each ring 10 may yield` radially, independently ofthe next ring, to some extent, butthe rings are linked together,:to resist the circumferential strain resulting froimthetractive effort of theivheel.

`Each ringl 1() is provided upon its inner curve, Withany desired number of inwardly projecting studs 18. That stud which i is closestitothebase member S is denoted by the numeral 19 and is provided With a flan ge 20. 3 Securing devices `21, which :may be screws, or bolts, pass through the base mem- 1 ber 8 and through the rings 10, te hold the same on the basemember. Itisto be fobservedthat the securing` devices 21 engage sired, the screws 24 may be omitted, since a means now to be described, is provided for engaging the inner ends of the springs 26 to hold those ends on the flat edges 23 of the blocks 22. Plates 27 abut against the opposite ends of each core block 22 and eX- tend beyond the periphery of the block, to act as retainers for the inner ends of the springs and to hold them on the flat faces 23 as do theelements 24:. A securing element, such as a bolt 28, passes through each core block 22 and holds the plates 27 thereon. The outer end of the springs 26 abut against the rings 10 and are held thereto by the studs 18 and 19.

I'he springs 26 resist compression of the rings 10, in a radial direction, and givev the device great resiliency and load-supporting power. The plates 27 may be detached from the blocks 22, and any spring 26 which is broken or dead, may be replaced. Further, any ring 10, with all of its springs 26 may be removed, should occasion demand.

In the modication shown in Fig. 5, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals previously used, with the suiiiX "a., The modification consists in extending a circumferential ring transversely of the rings 10, within the rings 10 and at the tread portions thereof, the ring, denoted by the numeral 29, being expansible and being held in position, within limits, by the studs 18El between which the ring is located.

If any ring, such as the ring l0b of Fig. 6, needs reinforcement, another ring 30 may be applied thereto.

If desired, a filler 100, made of any ilexible material, may be placed between the easing 5 and the rings 10.

I claim I 1. In a device of the class described, a circumferential base member; transverse resilient rings; means for securing the rings detachably to the base member; a core block in each ring; helical compression springs disposed radially of each ring, the outer ends 0f the springs abutting against the ring, and the inner ends of the springs abutting against the block; plates at the opposite ends of each block and projecting beyond the periphery thereof to act asretainers for the inner vends of the springs; and means forl securing the plates detachably to the block.

2. In a device of the class described, a circumferential base member; transverse resilient rings; means for securing the rings detachably to the base member, a core block in each ring; helical con'iprcssion sprinfrs disposed radially of each ring, the'outer ends of the springs abutting against the ring, and the inner ends of the springs abutting against the block; plates at the opposite ends of each block and projecting beyond the periphery thereof to act as retainers for the inner ends of the springs; and a single securing element passing through each block and engaged at its ends with the plates of said block.

3. In a device of the class described, a circumferential base member; transverse resilient rings; means for securing the rings detachably to the base member; a core block in each ring; hinges uniting the edges of the rings; and helical compression springs disposed radially of each ring, the outer ends of the springs abutting against the ring and the inner ends of the springs abutting against the block.

4. In a device of the class described, aeircumferential base member; transverse resilient rings; means for securing the rings detachably to the base member; a core block in each ring; hinges uniting the edges of the rings; helical compression springs1 disposed radially of each ring, the outer ends of the springs abutting against the ring. and the inner ends of the springs abutting against the block; plates at the opposite ends.

of each block and projecting beyond the periphery thereof to act as retainers for the inner ends of the springs; and a securing element passing through each block and engaged at its ends with the plates of said block.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOI-IN W. BASSIIAM- Witnesses:

F. L. LEARCH, I. E. SIMPSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

